FOLLOW US

  • facebook
  • twitter
Wed

March 25, 2026

Continuity Marketing December 16, 2024 12 mins read

Part 1: “Free Trial” Scams and The Main Operator Behind Them

Continuity Marketing ı By Jeff Watterson

3,865 0 Comments

Load Balancing:  A load balancer is a software tool that distributes "free trial" transaction across a number of merchant accounts for the primary purpose of keeping the chargeback count per each MID under 100 chargebacks per month.   These tools are typically a part of CRMs.

Friendlies:  prepaid debit card transactions that are processed to increase the total number of transactions to keep the chargeback ration below 1%.

CRM (Customer Relationship Management):  this is a software tool used to manage customer relationships.

R.I.C.O. Act:  The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, commonly referred to as the RICO Act or simply RICO, is a United States federal law that provides for extended criminal penalties and a civil cause of action for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization.

Free Trial:  a product or service that is offered to customers for free for a short period of time so they can try using it.   Often times free trial schemes in the health and beauty industry go to great lengths to hide terms and conditions of sales.

Visa/Mastercard Chargeback Thresholds: there are the thresholds that merchants have to keep their charebacks under.

Bank Page: the website that is shown to the bank by the merchant at the UBO's direction to acquire the MIDs to process Visa/Mastercard transactions.  This is a legally compliant website and is not the actual website that the user will use to promote the offer.

Landing Page:  this is the website that the UBO has his affiliate marketers promote and is non-compliant.   The reason for promoting the non-compliant page is that it converts consumers into customers at higher rates.  Often the consumers don't know that they were enrolled in a continuity plan and this is by design so the UBO makes more money.

ISO:  A merchant account is established under an agreement between an acceptor and a merchant acquiring bank for the settlement of payment card transactions. In some cases a payment processor, independent sales organization (ISO), or member service provider (MSP) is also a party to the merchant agreement.

Bank Fraud: the use of potentially illegal means to obtain money, assets, or other property owned or held by a financial institution, or to obtain money from depositors by fraudulently posing as a bank or other financial institution. In many instances, bank fraud is a criminal offence.

U.S. Postal Fraud: U.S. Postal Inspectors investigate any crime in which the U.S. Mail is used to further a scheme--whether it originated in the mail, by telephone, or on the Internet. The use of the U.S. Mail is what makes it mail fraud.

12345...

Previous Article

News Launcher – Mass Media Distribution

Read More
Jeff Watterson
100 Posts

Jeff Watterson

Jeff Watterson is a journalist that focuses on politics, investigative journalism, and technology news. When Jeff is not writing, which is his hobby, he enjoys fishing and hunting.

Don’t Miss It
America March 25, 2026
Meta $375M Verdict Shakes Tech Giant After Landmark Jury Decision
By – Rihem Akkouche
America March 25, 2026
Iran Rejects U.S. Ceasefire Blueprint as War Demands Escalate
By – Rihem Akkouche
America March 25, 2026
Robotics companies struggle to perfect the robotic hand
By – Tyler Brooks
Arizona January 11, 2025
Kelly Warner Law Firm Blames USA Herald for Arizona Bar Investigation

6/25/17  Learning of Mr. Levy’s filing to vacate another fraudulent order that the Kelly Warner Law Firm was involved in,…

By – USA Herald
Arizona January 4, 2025
Aaron Kelly Law Firm Resorts To Attacking Former Client Again On KellyWarnerLaw.com – Pattern Recognized

Professor Volokh thereafter filed a bar complaint against Dan Warner with the Arizona Bar. This eventually led the ABA to…

By – Jeff Watterson
Arizona December 12, 2024
Arizona Bar Opens Investigation on Attorney Aaron Kelly

USA Herald recently reported on a developing story involving Attorneys Daniel Warner and Aaron Kelly. Both Warner and Kelly have…

By – Paul O'Neal
America March 25, 2026
Parents Think They Understand How Kids Use AI — But They Don’t

However, concerns about cheating remain. While few teens admit to using AI dishonestly themselves, 59% say students at their school…

By – Tyler Brooks
America March 25, 2026
Ground Truth: When the Earth Moves, AI Can Detect It

To train the system, around 4,000 avalanche images were manually labeled. This allowed a deep learning model to learn what…

By – Tyler Brooks
America March 25, 2026
The Philippines Declares a National Energy Emergency Following War on Iran, Becoming the First Country To Do So

Since the conflict in the Middle East began, the government has introduced subsidies for transport drivers, reduced ferry services, and…

By – Tyler Brooks
America March 25, 2026
OpenAI has Shut Down its Artificial Intelligence Video-Generation App, Sora, Less than Two Years After Its Launch

At the same time, OpenAI is ending its content partnership with Disney. The company said it decided to discontinue Sora…

By – Tyler Brooks
America March 25, 2026
Meta Ordered to Pay $375 million For Misleading Users About Children Safety on Platform

Torrez said Meta executives were aware of the harm their products caused, ignored warnings from employees, and misled the public.…

By – Tyler Brooks
America March 24, 2026

The case is one of several civil suits Cosby currently faces from women who have accused him of sexual misconduct…

By – Derek Johnson
America March 24, 2026

The case is one of several civil suits Cosby currently faces from women who have accused him of sexual misconduct…

By – Derek Johnson
America March 24, 2026
Iran-Israel War Rages Into Day 25: Trump Claims Peace Talks While Tehran Flatly Denies Any Negotiations

Wall Street has responded with volatility. The Dow Jones Industrial Average has swung more than 500 points in five of…

By – Derek Johnson
America March 24, 2026
Oil rebounds above $100 amid mixed signals over US–Iran talks

Brent crude prices climbed back above $100 per barrel after a sharp drop earlier in the week, as uncertainty grew…

By – Tyler Brooks
America March 24, 2026
Delta Congress VIP Membership Removal Amid DHS Shutdown

Delta Air Lines has suspended airport escorts and red coat services for members of Congress and their staff due to…

By – Rachel Moore
America March 24, 2026
Pentagon to Send 3,000 Soldiers to Middle East Amid Iran Tensions

The Pentagon confirmed plans to deploy roughly 3,000 soldiers from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, intensifying…

By – Rachel Moore
America March 24, 2026
Namibia Blocks Elon Musk’s Starlink in Licensing Setback

High Stakes for Connectivity in Remote Regions Starlink’s satellite network is designed to deliver high-speed internet to remote and underserved…

By – Rachel Moore
America March 24, 2026
Namibia Blocks Elon Musk’s Starlink in Licensing Setback

High Stakes for Connectivity in Remote Regions Starlink’s satellite network is designed to deliver high-speed internet to remote and underserved…

By – Rachel Moore
America March 24, 2026
NASA Plan for Moon Base Shifts Course in $20 Billion Lunar Pivot

In a dramatic strategic overhaul, the NASA plan for moon base is taking center stage as the agency abandons its…

By – Rachel Moore
America March 24, 2026
Dayton Webber Charged With Murder After Deadly Car Shooting

A Community Left Searching for Answers The transformation from celebrated athlete to murder suspect has left many grappling with disbelief—like…

By – Rihem Akkouche
America March 24, 2026
US Park Police Officer Shot in DC Sparks Intense Manhunt

A Pattern of Violence Raises Concern The shooting comes just months after a deadly November incident in the District, when…

By – Rihem Akkouche
America March 24, 2026
Explosion at Valero Refinery Sends Smoke Towering Over Texas Coast

A City on Edge, Then Relief As dawn broke Tuesday, the immediate danger appeared to ease, but the memory of…

By – Rihem Akkouche
America March 24, 2026
UCI Health Layoffs Impact 150 Workers Amid Financial Pressures

A wave of restructuring has swept through Southern California’s healthcare sector as UCI Health layoffs affect approximately 150 employees, signaling…

By – Rihem Akkouche
America March 15, 2026
Arizona Man Accused of Crucifying Pastor Pushes Judge For A Quick Death Sentence

By Samuel A. Lopez | USA Herald – An Arizona courtroom is now the center of a deeply disturbing case…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 11, 2026
Trump’s Laser Talk Sparks New Questions About America’s Secret Arsenal

There is, however, abundant evidence that the United States, Israel, and their defense sectors are moving rapidly into a new…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 8, 2026
The Northern Lights Return

The Northern Lights have a chance to be visible from several northern U.S. states on Tuesday night, forecasters at the…

By – Jackie Allen
America March 8, 2026
February Unemployment Up as Job Losses Surprise Economists

According to the BLS: Producer prices rose 2.9% year-over-year through January 2026 Core PPI increased 3.6%, excluding food and energy…

By – Jackie Allen
America March 8, 2026
Late-Night Attack by Venezuelan National at Florida Beach

Officials noted that the suspect had overstayed his work visa at the time of the attack. For more details on…

By – Jackie Allen
America March 8, 2026
Trump’s War in Iran: Congress Confronts Escalation After U.S. Strikes

On the Republican side, most lawmakers appear to back Trump’s strategy. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), chair of the Senate Intelligence…

By – Jackie Allen
America March 24, 2026
Apollo to Acquire Nippon Sheet in Landmark $3.7B Deal

In a move that underscores shifting tides in global finance, Apollo to acquire Nippon Sheet has emerged as one of…

By – Rachel Moore
America March 24, 2026
UCI Health Layoffs Impact 150 Workers Amid Financial Pressures

A wave of restructuring has swept through Southern California’s healthcare sector as UCI Health layoffs affect approximately 150 employees, signaling…

By – Rihem Akkouche
America March 24, 2026
Estée Lauder to Merge With Puig in Talks to Form $40bn Beauty Powerhouse

Leadership Changes and Expansion Strategy The Barcelona-based company recently appointed José Manuel Albesa as its first chief executive from outside…

By – Rachel Moore
America March 23, 2026
US French Energy $1bn Investment Sparks Offshore Wind Controversy

In a move that could reshape America’s clean energy future, the Trump administration announced Monday it will pay French energy…

By – Rachel Moore
America March 23, 2026
Alphabet San Francisco Drone Delivery Set to Take Flight

A new chapter in urban logistics is unfolding as Alphabet San Francisco drone delivery moves from concept to reality, with…

By – Rachel Moore
America March 23, 2026
Fentanyl Inside Barbie Doll Packaging Triggers Urgent Investigation in Missouri

A startling discovery has rattled a Missouri community after fentanyl inside Barbie doll packaging was uncovered at a local discount…

By – Rachel Moore
America March 14, 2026
War Insurance Reality Americans Face Even When the Battlefield Is Overseas

These preparations may sound routine, but they form the backbone of financial resilience during periods of global instability. For the…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 13, 2026
Supreme Court Asked To Step In As 98-Year-Old Federal Judge Pauline Newman Fights Suspension From The Bench

[USA HERALD] – For more than four decades, one of the most influential judges in American patent law helped shape…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 12, 2026
Iran Appears To Have Conducted Its First Major Cyberattack Against A U.S. Company, Since The War Began – New Front Opens Against American Healthcare

That is where this incident becomes bigger than one company. For years, cyber warnings around Iran often centered on espionage,…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 12, 2026
Beyond Gas Prices The Strait of Hormuz Crisis Could Hit Fertilizer, Plastics, Aluminum And Global Supply Chains

*** Follow my reporting at USA Herald for sharp, fact-driven coverage that cuts through the noise and tracks the legal,…

By – Samuel Lopez
America February 21, 2026
When The Files Are Finally Unsealed The Most Mind-Bending Truth May Not Be What We Expect

[USA HERALD] – There is a widespread assumption that if governments release their most highly classified files related to unidentified…

By – Samuel Lopez
America February 17, 2026
Civil Rights Icon Rev. Jesse Jackson Dies at 84 As President Trump Issues Personal Tribute

His passing closes a chapter in American civil rights history, but the debates he shaped, the institutions he built, and…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 12, 2026
The World Cup Security Reckoning: Trump Warns Iran Soccer Team About Safety As War Tensions Spill Into Global Sports

By Samuel A. Lopez | USA Herald – A short Truth-Social post from President Donald Trump on Thursday morning is now…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 8, 2026
Trump’s War in Iran: Congress Confronts Escalation After U.S. Strikes

On the Republican side, most lawmakers appear to back Trump’s strategy. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), chair of the Senate Intelligence…

By – Jackie Allen
America March 1, 2026
Cadillac Names Inaugural Formula 1 Car MAC-26 in Tribute to Mario Andretti Ahead of 2026 Australian Grand Prix Debut

Whether Cadillac immediately challenges the front-runners or builds steadily over several seasons, its presence reshapes the Formula 1 landscape. The…

By – Ahmed Boughalleb
America February 20, 2026
Norway Tops Medal Table After Day 13 at 2026 Winter Olympics as Team USA Surges Into Second Place

With 13 days complete at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, Norway sits atop the overall medal standings, collecting 34…

By – Ahmed Boughalleb
America February 18, 2026
Olympic Science Explained: How Figure Skaters Spin at Blinding Speeds Without Getting Dizzy

When Amber Glenn finishes her routine, the arena usually rises with her. The music builds, her blades carve a tight…

By – Tyler Brooks
America February 16, 2026
Olympic Villages Run Out of Condoms at 2026 Milan-Cortina Games

Condom supplies in the Olympic Villages at the 2026 Winter Games have been temporarily depleted, the Milan-Cortina organizing committee confirmed,…

By – Tyler Brooks

No posts found.

No posts found.

No comments No comments yet. Be the first to comment!

Signup for the USA Herald
exclusive Newsletter